Colloquium 10/14/10: “Neutrino Physics and The Dayabay Experiment”

Speaker: Prof. John Cummings, Siena College

Title: Neutrino Physics and The Dayabay Experiment

Abstract: There has been a resurgence in interest in neutrino physics in the last 10 years. The observations of the Super-Kamiokande Experiment in 1998 indicated the “oscillation” of one flavor neutrino into another. Several experiments, now running or soon to begin, are attempting to map out the details of the neutrino mixing responsible for this oscillation phenomena. I will present a (brief) history of our understanding of the neutrino, and describe the phenomena of neutrino oscillations and what we can learn from them. Finally, I’ll describe the Dayabay experiment and it’s goals.

As always, the colloquium will be at 12:40 in Room N304, with pizza and soda available at 12:20 for those attending the talk. For details of future colloquia, see the Fall 2010 colloquium schedule.

Colloquium 10/8/10: “The Physics of Baseball”

Speaker: Prof. Charles Freeman, SUNY Geneseo

Title: The Physics of Baseball

Abstract: Baseball is a particularly interesting game for a physicist to study. What makes a curve ball curve? How much farther does the ball really travel at Coors Field in Denver than at Citi Field in New York? Why do left handed pitchers have more success against left handed batters (and right handed pitchers have more success against right handed batters)? What is the difference between a two-seam and a four-seam fastball? How do you throw a split-fingered fastball, anyway? An ex-pitcher and current physicist sheds some light on these questions and discusses some other interesting physics at work in our national pastime. Feel free to bring your glove — you just might catch a souvenir.

As always, the colloquium will be at 12:40 in Room N304, with pizza and soda available at 12:20 for those attending the talk. For details of future colloquia, see the Fall 2010 colloquium schedule.